Maine Trust for Local News wins more than 100 awards at annual press contest
Maine Trust for Local News Collects More than 100 Awards at State Press Gala
Portland, Maine – In a showcase that highlighted the breadth of journalism across the state, the Maine Trust for Local News amassed more than 100 awards at the Maine Press Association’s annual awards ceremony on Saturday. The event, hosted at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Portland, drew reporters, editors and executives from the state’s most influential newspapers and digital outlets.
A Broad Sweep of Honors
The Trust, which owns the Portland Press Herald and Maine Sunday Telegram, the Sun Journal in Lewiston, the Kennebec Journal in Augusta and the Morning Sentinel in Waterville, took home top honors in a number of general categories.
- General Excellence – Daily/Weekend Newspapers: The Sun Journal earned first place, followed by the Kennebec Journal and the Bangor Daily News.
- General Excellence – Advertising: The Portland Press Herald led the pack, with the Sun Journal taking second and Central Maine Sunday third.
- General Excellence – Digital: The Press Herald’s website, pressherald.com, secured first place; the Maine Monitor’s site, themainemonitor.org, was second, and Centralmaine.com, the joint web home of the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel, was third.
In addition to these group accolades, the Trust’s individual journalists and photographers received 94 distinct prizes, bringing the total to more than 100.
Business and Creative Leadership Recognized
Allison McCann, vice‑president of advertising and business development for the Trust, was named Businessperson of the Year. “I’ve worked alongside Alli for more than a decade,” said President and Publisher Stefanie Manning. “She understands our business, believes deeply in what we do, and brings an incredible amount of energy, creativity and determination to making us successful. When Alli is in the room, I know our interests are well represented. She’s a trusted partner, a strong leader, and someone who genuinely cares about the people she works with. This recognition is so well deserved, and I couldn’t be happier for her.”
Melissa Pritchard, who recently retired as the Trust’s long‑time creative‑services director, received the Mentor of the Year award. Executive Editor Carolyn Fox remarked, “It was an exceptional year of journalism across Maine,” adding her congratulations to the Trust’s recipients and the other MPA winners.
Spotlight on Individual Excellence
Portland Press Herald dominated the individual awards segment, securing 56 recognitions, including 26 first‑place prizes. Highlights include:
- Kelley Bouchard for her investigative piece on a Maine couple who transferred $1.3 million of retirement savings to Bitcoin scammers.
- Drew Bonifant for a sports story that examined the high rates of concussions in girls’ soccer.
- Megan Gray for an outdoors feature tracing the 250‑mile Can‑Am Crown International Sled Dog Races across Aroostook County.
- Gregory Rec, the Herald’s chief photographer, earned “Best in Show” for a December 30, 2025, photo of
